Welt for suitcases or the like



Aug. m; 1923.

H. BURCHESS WELT FOR SUITCASES OR THE LIKE Filed June 21. 1922 Patented Aug. 14, 1223.

HERMAN BURCHESS, F NEW YORK, N.

Y., ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF T0 HARRY WEINGARTEN, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

WELT FOR SUITCASES OR THE LIKE.

Application led `.Tune 21, 1922. Serial No. 569,955.

To all whom. t may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMAN B UnoHnss, a subject of the King of Roumanla, residing at New York city, borough of the Bronx, State of New York, have invented certaln new and useful Improvements in Welts for Suitcases or the like, of which the following in a full, clear, and exact description.`

This invention relates to improvements in the construction of suit cases, bags or the like, one of the objects being to provide an improved welt edge for the corners of suit cases or bags, arranged to provide a stifcning element for certain of the edges thereof. While am aware that Welt edges are at present used, these Welt edges are not as stiff as my improved welt edge, owing to my special manner of applying the containers for supporting the sti'ening element.

l will now proceed to describe my invention in detail, the novel features of which 1 will point out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 illustrates in perspective a suit case embodying my improvement;

Fig. v2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on Aa line 2 2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a similar view illustrating the welt that is shaped to contain the stiffening element; e

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective sectional view, illustrating the welt and stii'ening element assembled;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional View, the section being taken on line 5--5 in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view looking toward the left in Fig. 3.

My improvement is comprised of a Welt 7 applied to the end edges of a suit case 8 or the like. The suit case in this instance is made up of material such as 'fibre board, the sides and bottom 9 and 10 being in one piece, the ends 11, one only'being shown, being separate pieces. The ends arev secured to the body member or sides and bottom by means of a gusset 12 secured to the p inner surface of the ends, sides-and bottom adjacent the meeting point of same. The

sides 9 and bottom 10 are covered witha facing 13 of leather or other suitable material, said facing overlapping the ends of the body of the case, as indicatedby 14.

case by means of stitching 18, as indica-ted' in Fig. 3, the stitching being applied as close to the corner 19 of the gusset 12 as possible. After said strip has been applied, I fold same over the insert 17 and secure the folded overportion of the gusset to the said gusset 12 and overlapping portion 14 of the facing 13 by stitching 20. After the welt has been applied, I place the ends 11 in position by securing same to the gusset 12 usually by gluing. After the ends have been placed in position I apply the facing and stitch same, as at; 21, to the welt and gusset, as indicated in Fig. 2. 1tv will be obvious that the stitching 18 will hold the welt'closely to the body of the case and the joint 22 will be closed, that is to say, the welt cannot be sprung away from same. The lines of stitching and 21 still further securely bind the welt to the suit case as the stiffening element or insert is held by the gusset which cannot be sprung away from the body yof the case, owing particularly toV the line of stitching 18. The welt as a hold will add rigidity to the suit case structure. My invention relates more particularly to the special gusset arrangement, or particular manner of securing same to thel side, 'bottom and end members of the case. en constructing the case, lt stitch the strip 16 to the gusset or brace 12, as indicated in Fig. 3. lf then fold the strip over the insert or sti'ening element 16 and stitch same to the brace 12, as indicated in Fig. 4. 1 then apply the ends 11, usually by securing same to brace 11 and finally apply the facing 15 thereto and stitch same to the case, at its edges, by the stitching 21, as indicated in Fig. 2.

What l desire to secure by Letters Fatent, is

1. 1n a container, a body member, a facing therefor of pliable material, said facing extending beyond the ends of the body member and turned downwardly over said ends,'a corner brace carried by the body member, the turned down ends of the facing being secured to said brace, a container secured to said brace, a sti'fening element'l carried by said container, end members secured to said brace, and a facing for the end members secured to said container and said brace.

2. In combination with a container-composed of a body member and end members, a

welt extending along the meeting edges of the body and end members, consisting of a container composed of a strip of pliable material and a sti'ening element within.

same, said container being secured to said body member at a point close to saidstiffening element and also at a point removed from the sti'ening element whereby said welt will be rendered rigid enough to. resist being bent'away from the body member.

HERMAN BU RCI-IESS. 

